Apparatus for carding artificial teeth



Nov. 14, 1944. .l. H. MoYER ETAL 2,362,650

APPARATUS FOR CARDING ARTIFICIAL TEETH Filed June l, 1942 Il ll Y '0 s21 IU 11 Jmes H. Mqyef;

E Vans,

Patented Nov. 14, 1944 UNITED STATES Pllilfeilvr oFFlcE hio, assgnorstoThe Columbus Dental Manmbus, Ohio, a corporation ufacturing "o., Colu ofOhio l Application .lune 1, 1942, 'Seriallm` 445,356

i claims. (orcos-fsa) This invention relates to apparatus for mountlng,storing and displaying artificial teeth' in an orderly, readily identiedand .compact manner.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved tooth-mountingor lcarding means so constructed asto enable merchandisablestocks ofsuch teeth to be mounted for individual removal on panels and whereineach panel, Yin turn, is removably carried by a single backing member,so that the teeth may be removed from `'the mounting individually or insmall groups, by detach'ing one `or more of the .panels on which theteeth are carried vfrom the [associated .backing member. y

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedtooth-carding` device wherein the mounting panels, on which the arti`cial vteeth are directly carried in .sets or groups, have slidable.supporting engagement 4with a backing member, the latter being providedwith` means for supporting a number of duplicative panels thereon andadaptingsuch panels for indi-A vidual removalwfrom the backing member,the sliding connection between the panels and the 'backing member beingsuch `as to enable saidpanels to begrouped in relatively closelyadjacent parallel order, thereby minimizing display space for a givennumber of teeth and yet affor ing ready and complete `acmessibility toeach of the panel units and the teeth supported thereon for theirconvenient removal from the device.

kAnother object of theinvention resides in 'the provision of atooth-carding device 'of the character set :forth wherein the backingvmemberhas its front surface provided with la plurality of closelypositioned par-.alici guide devices, the lat ter being formed to supportand slidably receive the tooth-mounting and retaining panels, so thatsaid panels may be detachably mounted in vclosely order -on or inconnection with saidbacking memben A further object resides in theprovision of improved tooth-mounting vpanel for such toothcardingdevices, the panel being formed from transparent materials and having alsubstamaially; rectangular -coniigmatiom the upper and lower4 paralleledges of said panel being formed with internal flanges umich are adaptedfor sllda'ble attaching Vengagement with the corresponding edges :of theguide devices carried by the backing. member fon'which the panel "isadapted to be posi-v tioned.

Still .another object resides in the provision of a coloredindicia-bearing card which isadapted' to 'be removablyjinserted in Veachof the transparent mounting 'panelaso that when the latter are arrangedon a backing member in closely assembled order, said'cards 'willimpartto the entire cardng device'a distinctive coloration, whereby toimpart a pleasing appearance to the device and,

also,` providing a key system `ol? coloration by For j'afurtherunderstanding of the invention,

reference is 'to be had to the following descriptionand theaccompanyingdrawing, wherein:

' Fig.j'1 is a'front elevation of the improved tooth-carding devicecomprising the present in` vention;

Figgzis avertical transverse sectionaljview on an enlarged scale, theplane `of the ligure being indicated by the 'line II--II of Fig. l;

Fig.` 3 is ahorizontal sectional view taken on the plane disclosed bythe'l'ineIII-III of Fig. Yl;

Fig. 4 is a detailperspective View disclosing one of thetooth-mountingpanels removed from the backing member;

Fig. `5 'is a .fragmentary perspective View of the backing member; Y

Fig; bis asimilar View @fone of the indicia cards; l

Fig. 7 yis a detail vertical sectional View taken through amodied ,formof 'backing member.

`'Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral .l0 designatesthe .backing member of our Vimproved carding device. This mem-ber may beformedfrom a rectangular, sheet of any suitable material ,possessing thedesired .rigidity and mechanical strength. In this connection, we havefoundcardboard to be entirely suitable, since t-.hasthe Aadvantageofbeing economical and light in weight. However, other suitable materials.may be employed.` 0n the front or upper surface ofthe bac-king member,there vis mounted aplurality olf `parallel guide strips H. In the formof:the invention illustrated, these guide strips to 'said 'backing member,the same may be `plied positions on the lugs.

backing. In our preferred construction, each of..`

the panels I3 is formed from a transparent non-... fracturing materialsuch', for example, plastics of the cellulose acetate, cellulosenitrate, arylate, phenol-formaldehyde types may be used.` These plasticspresent smooth, transparent glazed bodies which do not readily break orfracture and add to the attractiveness of the carding device generally.

Each of these panels has its upper and lowerv longitudinal edges formedwith inwardly turned flanges I4 which constitute .guides for thereception of the flexible edges of the guide strips II. These strips areapproximately the same width as the guides formed by the anges I4 s0that the operating positions of the panels on the backing member areretained by the friction between the slidable parts and are held againstremoval except by positive sliding movement of the panels in a planeparallel with that of the backing member. Preferably, the strips I`I arechamfered at each end, as indicated at I5, so that convenience isobtained in the matter of inserting the panels over the guide strips soas to cause the flanges I4 to embrace the edges of the guide strips. Thepanels are inserted on the guide strips by a sliding movement, thechamfered edges of the strip being inserted in the open ends of theguides formed by the flanges I4 and the panels then moved inwardly andlongitudinally along the guide strips until desired operating or displaypositions have been reached. Similar facility is obtained in theremoving of any one or more of the panels from their operatingpositions.

To mount artificial teeth in connection with the panels, each panel hasits inner or back face provided preferably with a ribbon I6 composed ofa relatively soft compressible non-metallic material such-as softrubber, ber or the like, such materials having been disclosed in theprior patents of David E. Evans, one of the joint applicants herein,Nos. 1,857,713 and 2,111,095, granted respectively May l0, 1932, andMarch 15, 1938. However, rigid lugs of the type disclosed in the J. H.Moyer patent, No. 1,721,526 of July 23, 1929, may be used. Each panelhas the wall thereof provided with a plurality of longitudinally spacedvertical slots I1 and adapted to pass through and project beyond theseslots are toothmounting lugs I 8 which comprise integral portions of theribbon or ribbons I6.

In cross section, the lugs I8 are so formed as to slightly exceed thediameter of slots I9 provided in the artificial teeth indicated at 20,so that when the teeth are slidably inserted on the lugs, the latter aresomewhat compressed and frictionally engage the walls of the slots I 9to firmly and positively hold the teeth in their ap- Each tooth may beindividually removed whenever desired from any one of said lugs, or theteeth may be removed in sets by withdrawing the panel or panels on whichthey are mounted from engagement with the backing member.

Itwill be noted that the front walls or sur-.

faces of the panel units are smooth and uninterrupted, all parts thereoflying in the same plane, so that the teeth may be readily advancedwithout obstruction over the glaze-like surfaces of the panels intoengagement with the compressible lugs. Since the ribbons I6 are mountedon the under sides of the mounting panels, it will be observed that theonly projections provided by our improved carding device are thoseformed by the lugs I8, Otherwise, the other surfaces of the cardingdevice are smooth, fiat and unbroken.

To impartA an improved appearance to our carding device and to produce acolored background desirably contrasting with the natural coloration ofthe teeth mounted on the device in addition to providing a key system oftooth identification, each of the mounting panels is formed to receive aremovable card 2| of selected coloration, for instance, red, blue, greenor the like. Each card is of approximately the same size as the panelunit in which it is inserted, so that its edges will be positioned inthe guides formed by the flanges I4. Since the mounting panels areformed of a transparent material, the color of the cards lis readilyviewable therethrough.

An important use for'this system of key coloration is that of indicatingthe different grades or lines of teeth offered by a particularmanufacturer. Another use of the color system is that of permittingready identification of quantities of the teeth arranged in variousassortments, particularly when the price of one assortment differs fromthat of other assortments.

Heretofore, the dealer has stored such teeth in tiers of drawers whereincertain groups of drawers contained one brand of teeth and another groupof drawers contained another brandor line of teeth. Color distinctiondid not enter into the differentiation of. these different brands orlines, and it was common to find the same color of card mount usedthroughout all brands. Of course,v such drawers usually carried labelsof some kind to indicate the rbrands of teeth they contained and yetconfusion in filing was quite common.' The color-key system hereinprovided offers valuable assistance to a tooth-counter clerk in quicklyidentifying the grades when the drawers are removed from their cabinetsand in promiscuous arrangement on the tooth-counter. A matching colorguide may be attached to the interior of the respective drawers,enabling their Contents to be identified without the necessity ofreading outside labels. Also, in displaying teeth to a customer, the setor group card mount is frequently removed from the drawer, asdistinguished from removing the drawer from the cabinet. Our color keysystem would greatly facilitate the proper return of unpurchased teethto stock.

Another use for our color key system has to do with the number of teethof a specific gradev The selection of the teeth to number, molds andshades of teeth, and as to price. ment would indicate at a glance all ofthe above information.

The color-key selected for each assort- In carrying this color schemeinto practice, the color red could'be` used to indicate the New huebrand of facings. In assortments, the color red can be used as the basicbackground and stripes or borders of increasing number or width may beemployed to identify the particular value of the assortment.

As a modification, the red colored indicia cards may be imprinted with anumber to indicate the price of the assortment. For instance, theindicia cards used in a $25.00 assortment could be nnprinted with thenumber 25. Similar numbers could be used for assortments of othervalues.

When it is considered that the average tooth.' dealer carries a numberof lines or grades of different artiiicialteeth, selling in variouscombinations and for various prices, the quick and ready identiiicationof any one of such brands or lines as aorded by our improved color-keysystem will be readily appreciated. Such assortments of teeth arecommonly sold to the dentist or to the dental laboratory by the dealeror, in some instances, by the manufacturer. The colorkey, as applied toassortments, not only has certain advantages in identifying theparticular assortment for the initial sale but, it has additionaladvantages to the salesman when making subsequent sales. Under suchconditions, the

salesman could readily identify the particular assortment the customerhad previously purchased.

It will be understood that the basic color combination of the indiciacards and/or the panels may be carried out in respect to the backingmember.`

While similar results may be obtained by forming the panels 'from acolored plastic material and printing data thereon, we have found thelatter method not to be as satisfactory, economical and convenient.Therefore, in the present invention, we use, preferably, transparentmaterials in the fabrication'of the panels and in combination therewiththe colored indicia-bearing cards.

The lightweight materials from which th backing member may be formedenables the latter to be readily removed with the teeth carried therebyfrom the tooth stock drawer. Heretofore, aluminum backing members havebeen employed, and it has been the common practice to attach them to thedrawer by some means, such as small brads. With this practice, it wasimpossible to remove the backing members carrying the plurality ofpanels. Inv the present invention, the entire drawer may be removed fromits cabinet, if desired, or one may remove the backing members carryingthe plurality of panels, leaving the drawer in the cabinet. Also, it ispossible to remove one or more of the individual panels from a givenbacking member.

While we have described certain preferred forms of our presentinvention, nevertheless it will be understood that the same are subjectto further variation and modification without departing necessarily fromthe scope and spirit of the following claims.

What we claim is:

1. A device for carding interchangeable artiicial teeth comprising a.backing member, guide strips positioned in spaced parallel order on thefront surface of said backing member, said strips having longitudinaledges adapted to be spaced from the front surface of said backingmember, a plurality of substantially rectangular mounting panels formedfrom a substantially transparent material, each of said panels havingits longitudinal edges formed with rearwardly and inwardly directedflanges forming channels which are slidably receivable on thelongitudinal edges of the guide strips, a ribbon of a soft yieldablematerial extending longitudinally of each of said panels in engagementwith the under surface thereof, said ribbon having a plurality of lugsintegrally formed therewith, said lugs projecting through and beyondvertical slots formed in each of said panels to provide supports for theremovable reception of artificial teeth, and a colored indicia-bearingcard having its edges slidably and removably positioned in the channelsof each of said panels, said card being disposed in front of said guidestrips and to the rear of said ribbon.

2. A device for carding articlal teeth comprising a rectangular backingmember, parallel, longitudinally extending, panel-guiding and supportingstrips applied to the front face` of said backing member, a plurality oftransparent tooth mounting panels supported on each strip in endto-endabutting relation, the` upper and lower edges of eachof said panelsbeing formed with in-turned flanges/adapted for sliding engagement withthe longitudinal edges of said strips,

the spacing of said strips being such as to maintain the panelspositioned thereon in relatively close edge to edge order, spaced toothsupports projecting from the front face of each of said panels, and acolored indicia bearing card slidably and removably positioned in eachof said panels, said card conforming t'o the full length and widthdimensions of the panel in which it is inserted.

3. Apparatus for carding artificial teeth comprising a backing member, aplurality of parallel guide strips having free longitudinal edgesdisposed at spaced intervals on said backing member, a plurality oftransparent tooth-receiving panels having their longitudinal edgesformed with inturned ribs adapted for sliding engagement with the edgesof said strips, tooth supports projecting outwardly in a longitudinalrow from the front face of each of said panels for the detachablereception ofarticial teeth, and an indicia card removably positionedinengagement with the inner surface `of each of said panels tosubstantially completely cover the full area of the engaged surface.

4. Means for carding artificial teeth comprising Va plurality of backingmembers, a series of parallel guide strips provided on each backingmember, a series of rectangular, tooth-mounting panels formed oftransparent material and having at their side edges inturned flangesadapted for sliding engagement with the edges of said strips, lug meansprojecting outwardly from the front face of said panels for thedetachable reception of artificial teeth, and a colored indicia cardremovably positioned in engagement with the under surface of, each ofsaid panels, the color of the cards on different backing members beingdifferent, and serving to identify the character of the teeth mounted oneach lbacking member.

JAMES IL MOYER.

DAVID E. EVANS.

